Oxfordshire hospices join forces to increase vital ‘gifts in wills’ donations

15 September 2025

Sobell House, Helen & Douglas House and Katharine House say that legacy fundraising – when a person leaves money to a charity in their will – is an increasingly vital source of revenue and they are now reliant on it to form a significant portion of their overall fundraising income.  

The nature of giving to charity via your will means people can make a crucial difference to hospice care in Oxfordshire without it impacting finances now, when many households and families are financially stretched and making charitable contributions can be difficult.  

At Katharine House Hospice, legacy gifts currently support 1 in 10 of the patients they care for but they’re urging people to help them increase this number.  

Stephanie Lawless, Director of Fundraising & Marketing at Katharine House, said: “A growing demand for our specialist services, combined with rising costs, means Katharine House is spending more than it can raise. Gifts in wills are a vital part of the solution and will make a real impact across Oxfordshire. 

“The compassionate care provided at Katharine House Hospice, like other hospices, is not just for the patients but also for their family members too. One of our patients, Cat, was able to use our cuddle bed (funded by donors) so she could spend precious time with her son Archie. Hospice care isn’t just about specialist clinical support, but also about making every moment matter for the whole family.”